Many elderly persons are reluctant to make the transition to a mobility scooter. It is often perceived as being a loss of independent movement, but this couldn’t be further from the truth!
The purpose of mobility scooters is to make the lives of Australia’s older population safer and more convenient. Many people don’t realise that an assistive mobility device can actually provide much more freedom. It means that you can rely on yourself more, and on others less. It’s time to take a closer look at the three most prominent reasons why you should hire a mobility scooter, and debunk common myths about their use.
Maintain your independence
Do you need to enlist the help of a carer or family member to do your grocery shopping? Go to the doctors? Meet friends in town for coffee? Worse yet, are you paying an absolute arm and a leg in taxicab fares so that you can get everywhere you need to go? Relying on others to courier you around everywhere can really restrict your social life, and overall plans when it comes to running small daily errands. If you live in town, a manageable distance from local amenities, you may be able to walk by yourself, but this leaves you feeling exhausted for days afterwards. A mobility scooter is perfect for these outings as it will help you to manage your energy levels sensibly. You will no longer have to wait for someone to be able to take you to the bank; simply step into your mobility scooter and you can be there in a jiffy! Having a mobility scooter means having more freedom to plan your day as you would like to. And it also means that you’ll spend less time being exhausted, and more time socialising and getting things done!
Stay active
Now we know that many people are concerned that coming to rely on a mobility scooter will result in less physical activity, and increased deterioration of muscular function. Some even associate it with laziness. But this most certainly doesn’t have to be the case if you use your mobility scooter as it is intended; as an assistive device. As mentioned previously, utilising a mobility scooter will help you to manage the amount of energy you use for specific activities so that you can make the most of your day-to-day life. A mobility scooter may give you the freedom to access gentle exercise classes that will help you strengthen your body, such as water aerobics. A mobility scooter will get you from A to B, or from your house to the gym, where you can then spend your energy doing a gentle workout designed to improve your movement, rather than impair it! Use your energy wisely, and choose HOW you want to use it with a mobility scooter!
Enjoy your holiday without the stress!
Going on holidays can be both tremendously exciting, and overwhelmingly stressful when you’re getting older. If you’re going on structured tours, you may be afraid that you won’t be able to keep up with the group, or that you will miss out on activities that you have paid for because of mobility concerns. Hiring a mobility scooter for your holiday can banish this anxiety in a heartbeat! All you have to do is ensure that you book activities that are wheelchair accessible, and chat with your tour providers about your mobility requirements. Most will be more than happy to accommodate you! Having a mobility scooter on your holiday means that you can take in all the sites without being stressed about keeping up, or exhausted and irritable. Cruises are great holiday options for people using mobility scooters, and nearly all cruise ships these days are mobility-device friendly. Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you should have to forsake adventure – embracing it can even make you feel twenty years younger!
Are you ready to experience a more independent, exciting and energised lifestyle? Rent a mobility scooter with Macrae today!
